Shovel



June 3, 1930. L, E, WEBSTER 1,761,378

SHOVEL Filed Oct. 25, 192:5

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Vat the junction thereof.

Patented `lune 3, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE LEWIS E. WEBSTER, OFWYOMING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WYOMING SHO'VEL WORKS, OFWYOMING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYL- VAN IA.

SHOVEL Applicationled October 25, 1923. Serial No. 670,713.

This invention relates to shovels and is more particularly directed tothe provision of an improved junction between the blade and strap.

Heretofore in making so-called plain back shovels the junction betweenthe strap and blade was made by laying the two steel sheets togetherthen heating them with a proper iiuxing material and welding compoundand thereafter subjecting the part-s to the action of a drop hammer'.The re sulting shovel while commonly known as a welded shovel in realityhas nothing more than a so-called sweated joint. In the making of suchshovels true welding heats have to be avoided since the thin metalsections would burn up. Furthermore the action of the drop hammerreduces the thickness of the metal at the joint and thus materiallyweakens the shovel at a point where it is subject to the most strainwhen in use.

The present invention is directed to the provision of an improved formof construction which will permit actual welding of the strap and bladewithout the danger of burning the metal and without excessively thinningeither the metal of the blade or strap In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front view of the shovel.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 isa similar view to Fig. 2 showing the shovel back before theinsertion of the front strap.

In the manufacture of the improved shovels the blade material issuitably treated by pressing,y rolling or swaging toy thicken thematerial as indicated at l() in Fig. 3. Then by suitable tools the lip11 is formed. The blade blank thus is provided with a recess having theoutline indicated by dotted line 12 in Fig. 1. The strap portion 13 isthen suitably formed to exactly iit the recess and assembled into theblade 9. Previously to the assembly the lips l1` may be-bent downwardlyto overlie the top of the edges of the strap. Suitable uxing material isthen applied, the parts are brought to a welding heat and welded. Thenusual hammers may provides not only a welded joint between the bottom ofthe strap and the top of the blade but a welded joint is also securedbetween thebottom of the lip and the top of the strap. .Thus a triplethickness of metal comprising a double lap welded joint is secured atsuch points where the greatest strength is needed. The form of blade issuch that additional thickness of metal is secured at such points wherewelds are desired to be made. In this way true welded joints can beniade` without the possibility of burning the blade material during theheating process. j

It will be noted that the part 9 is provided with a step (which is justbelow the section line 2 2 of Fig. l). This edge may be properly termedthe step because it forms the rest for the foot of the user of theshovel. Above the step (in Fig. 2) the part 9 is substantially extendedto form the ac* tual shovel blade itself or the blading section of theshovel. Below this step is the shank part of part 9. This shank part isdirectly behind the extended shank part of the strap 13 as shown in Fig.l. The strap portion 13 has both an eye portion to lit the recess 12 andan extended shank portion. The thickening 10 heretofore mentioned andthe `ex-v tended lips 11 are formed in the blade part or blading sectionproper of the shovel it-self and at a point below the step as clearlyshown in Fig. l. In other words, the thick-` ening and the extended lipsl1 are in the extended blade surface or blading section itself of theshovel. By this construction these lips soy extend over the eye of thestrap portion at y the marginal edges thereof and generally extendtoward the center line of the eye so that substantially increased bladesectionl material is available for welding as before set forth.Furthermore, the resulting shovel is stronger than previous shovelsinasmuch as the eye part of the strap at its marginal j edges isactually embraced by the blade section material, thereby obviating anypossibility of the strap being pried oif when the shovel is in use.

What I claim isl y A shovel comprising a part having a blade sectionbeyond the shank of the shovel, and a strap portion7 said blade sectionitself of 3 the aforesaid part having` extended lips of l the bladesection material to embrace the strap portion.

In testimony whereof I hereto aix my signature. 10 LEWIS E. VEBSTER.

